Federal Minister Gabriel: “I welcome that the European Commission and Vice-President Šefčovič are increasingly looking for personal dialogue on energy and climate change with Member States, in order to jointly promote the Energy Union. The Energy Union needs in particular a functioning internal market, thus ensuring cost-effective security of supply across borders. For the necessary investments in our energy systems, we also quickly need clear rules on how we can really achieve EU’s 2030 climate and energy goals. To this end, I expect concrete proposals from the EU Commission, which above all, also include rules for the new energy plans. I agree with the Commission that greater progress in network expansion in Germany is necessary. For a sufficiently available network infrastructure is a prerequisite for the success of the Energiewende. “

Vice-President Šefčovič declared: “In Europe we can better and cheaper cope with the new challenges in energy and climate change together. That is what the European Energy Union is about. However, this can not happen solely from Brussels. For this we also need – in addition to a reliable and transparent implementation of the framework – support from the Member States, regions, municipalities, as well as the economy, the social partners and, of course, the citizens. I am grateful to the [German] federal government and in particular Minister Gabriel for your support to set this momentum into motion throughout Europe.”

At the European Council in October 2014, the 28 Heads of State and Government agreed on a new EU climate and energy framework until 2030.The decision provides for a binding EU climate target of at least 40% of domestic greenhouse gas reduction (compared to 1990), a self-binding EU target for at least 27% share of renewable energy and an energy efficiency target of at least 27%.For these goals, the leaders agreed on a reliable and transparent implementation (so-called governance) system of the framework.

The European Commission has presented in February 2015 its Framework Strategy for ‘A resilient Energy Union with a forward-looking climate change strategy’ and intends to present a first report on the State of the Energy Union this autumn.Initial [legislative] proposals from the Commission are expected in July.